Portable caisson



- (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' H. P. KIRKHAM.

j l PORTABLE OAISSON.

-8 1,797. PatentedApr.24, 1888.

w WITNESSES: IIVVE/VT'OR.

ATTORNEY (No Model.) 2 Sheets Sheet 2.

H. P. KIRKHAM.

PORTABLE GAISSON.

ATTORNEY.

- Y I UNITED STATES PATENT Oriana.

HENRY P. KIRKHAM, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

PORTABLE CAISSON.

EBPECIFICATION forming part 01 Letters Patent No. 381,7 97, dated April24, 1888.

' Application-filed March 25,1887. Serial No. 232,369. (No modeLl To allwhom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY P. KIRKHAM, of Brooklyn, in the county ofKings and State of New York, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Portable Oaissons, of

' which I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formingpart of this specification.

.This invention is in the nature of an improvementin portable caissons,andthe invention consists of a portable caisson constructed in themanner hereinafter shown, described,

and claimed.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings, Figure 1 represents the caissonsubmerged as in use; Fig. 2, aside view of caisson,partly in section;Fig.3, a vertical section taken in the line or on, Fig. 2; Fig. 4, across-section in the line 3 3 Fig. 2; and Fig. 5, a plan or top view ofcaisson.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures.

The chiefpurpose of this invention is to enable the crew of a ship tomake minor underwater repairs, and to avoid the delay and expenseincident to putting the vessel on the dock for that purpose, besidespermitting repairs of this character to be made during the safetywithout material delay. Among these minor repairs may be mentioned theloss of a propeller-blade, which is so common an accident that shipspropelled by such means invariably carry duplicate blades on board toreplace the broken ones; but this replacing necessitates docking theship, so that the duplicate blades are really not available until thevessel has reached port after a lengthened voyage, possibly madedangerous by the loss sustained. There aremany other minor repairssuchas the starting of a plate in iron ships, &c.,to repair which myinvention will befound useful; but since the drawings show itsapplication to the repair of a propeller-blade, I will confine mydescription of its application to that purpose.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the caisson, which may be of anyconvenient size and made of any suitable material consistent with thepurpose for which it is designed. The

form of this caisson is shown in the viewsv'oyage and permit the vesselto proceed with Figs. Land 5. It is divided into three compartments, B,G, and D. The middle com partment,0,is convex on one side, as at a, and5 concave on the other, as at b, and this middle compartment isseparated from the compartments on either side of'it by water-tightpartitions e and f. These partitions extend the entire length of thecompartments, as is seen 63 in Fig. 2; but the compartment 0, as is alsoshown in that figure, is of less depth than the side compartments, B andD, these side compartments extending somewhat below the middlecompartment,and thereby forming a space, 65 E, between each of thelower projections, and h, of the side compartments, which is unoccupied,excepting when the caisson is in use, as hereinafter mentioned.

The caisson is on all of its sides tightly 7o closed and renderedwater-proof, excepting at its top-side, which may or may notbe closed bya cover or other temporary means. In the convex side b or concave side aof the middle compartment, or in both sides, if desired, are 7 5inserted windows k, and in the concave side a window, Z, the last-namedwindow being near the bottom of the compartment, or in such a positionas will enable a man, when kneeling or sitting within the compartment,to see out of it. Also, to the concave side I) and below the window Zare fixed flexible tubular sections F, terminating at their outer endsin mittens or gloves m, perforations being made through the caissoncorresponding to the openings in these 8 tubular sections, theperforations opening into said sections. If desired, the upper ends ortops of the side compartments, B and D, may be closed by plates n, andthese plates having man-holes p to permit access within said com- 0partments, the man-holes being provided with suitable covers in theordinary way. The cen ter compartment, O,-may have fitted to it a cover,G, hinged thereto. At or near the'bottom of the prolongations g and h ofthe side compartments, B and D,.arefitted Valves 8, operated byvalve'stems p, "which extend through the compartments and terminate inhand-wheels 1). Also, in the compartments B and D may be inserted pipes20, terminating :00 at their upper ends in a yoke-pipe, y. The caissonmay be provided with suitable eyebolts, 0, to which guys andhoisting-chains H and J may be attached.

Now, with the foregoing construction my caisson is in this way operated:Should it be desired to replace a broken propeller-blade, the caisson,with suitable tackle, is lowered over the ships quarter, the valves 8having been previously opened by operating the handwheels '0, the waterin this way being permitted to enter into the side compartments, B andD, and assist in sinking the caisson, and also serve as ballast tomaintain it in a steady vertical position. The caisson descends with itsconcave side b forcing the edge of the broken propeller blade until thecaisson rests on one of the blades which has been turned to a horizontalposition for that purpose, the horizontal blade being received in thespace E, asis shown in Fig. 1. Then, by means of suitable guys, thecaisson is confined in that position, and the broken blade that is to bereplaced is brought within the reach of a man within the caisson, theconcave side I) bringing the hub of the propeller-shaft, to which theblades are attached,within easy reach of the operator, since the swellot' the blade can be received to some extent within the concavity of theside b,\vhile the convex side a affords an increased space in theinterior of the caisson for the operator to occupy.

'Ihe caisson now in position, the operator within it kneels or sitsdown, thrusts his arms into the tubular sections F and his hands intothe mittens m, and grasps a hammer, wrench, or other tool that has beenlowered to him from above, and proceeds to remove the remains of thebroken blade and replace it with the new blade, which has also beenlowered to him from above. The repairs being made, the caisson, bytackle, is hoisted up, the ballastwater within the compartments B and Dfinding exit through the open valves 8, and the caisson is then stowedaway and the ship proceeds.

On board ship the space that the caisson would occupy may be utilized byusing the caisson for a water-tank or for stowing within it anythingdesired.

Under some circumstances, as when a vessel has reached port and requiressome minor under-water repairs, but is without a caisson, by closing theman-holes p and the cover G and the valves 8, the caisson may be towedto the operator below may have both light and air,

the windows It also admitting light.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1-. A caisson consisting of three water-tight compartments separated bywatertight parti' tions, provided with windows, and tubular flexiblearmsections which terminate in mit' tens or gloves, whereby an operatormay make repairs, as and for the purpose described.

2. In a subaqueous caisson, flexible tubular and gloved arm-sectionsfixed permanently to the caisson, combined with a window located andconstructed to permit the operator to guide his arms in said tubularsections, as and for the purpose described.

3. In combination, in a subaqeous caisson, a middle compartment of lesslength than the compartments on each side of the same, whereby a space.E, without a bottom is formed, which enables the caisson to straddle aprojecting object, as and for the purpose described.

4. In combination, a subaqueous ca sson constructed with convex andconcave sides, with the means hereinbefore described for operating saidcaisson, as and for the purpose described.

5. A subaqueous caisson constructed with a concave or recessed side toreceive within it such projecting part or parts as need repairs andbring the same within reach of the operator in the caisson,substantially as and for the purpose described.

HENRY P. KIRKHAM In presence of- D. A. CARPENTER, T. G. EARL.

